Shoe having shank stiffeners and method of making such shoes



Oct. 27, 1931. R. B. BARTELS SHOE HAVING SHANK STIFFENERS AND METHOD OF MAKING SUCH SHOES Filed Nov. 1, 1929 Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REINI-IARD B. BARTELS, 0F MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS SHOE HAVING SHANK STIFFENERS AND METHOD OF MAKING SUCH SHOES Application filed November This invention relates to shoes of those types which employ both inner and outersoles, such as welt, McKay, Littleway process and cement process shoes and wherein it is desired to employ a stiffener for the shank portion of the shoe attached to the outer face of the innersole and more particularly where the shank stiffener is made from tempered steel. It has not been found practicable to provide tempered steel shank stiifeners with integral attaching prongs for fastening them to the sole members for the reason that the tempering has been found to cause the roots of the prongs to be too brittle to permit the prongs to be clinched in the sole members. Such shank stilfeners are provided therefore with perforations for the reception of separate fastening devices. Shoes of the types mentioned are commonly made on wood lasts which do not present suitable surfaces for clinching of the separate fastenings at the forward end of the stiffener. To insure adequate fastening of the stiffener, therefore, it would be desirable to fix the fastening to the innersole before its attachment to the last as at this time its upper face is accessible to suitable setting tools. If, however, the stiffener should be fixed in proper position on the innersole prior to the side lasting of the shoe, it would be in the way of the side lasting devices when operating at the relatively narrow shank portion of the shoe and it would thus interfere with this essential operation. It has been customary, therefore, to fix the stifiener in position as well as possible after the lasting operation and the great difficulty of fixing the stifiener securely in position at that time has been a serious objection to the use of tempered steel stifi'eners.

The present invention has for an object to overcome this objection. To this end a fastener for the stifiener is provided which can be securely fixed to the innersole before it is applied to the last .and when suitable set ting tools may be engaged therewith, and the stiffener and fastener are so constructed and related that the stiffener is firmly secured at its forward end when in its normal position of use against the under or outer face 1, 1929. Serial No. 403,999.

ener is ordinarily experienced and since a 1 heel is later secured tothis portion of the shoe, the firm fixing of this end of the stiffener in position is further facilitated. In accordance with this invention, therefore,

the stiflener and fastener cooperate to provide a hinge connection for the stifiener at its forward end with the innersole, which permits the stiffener to be swung away from the shank portion of the shoe so long as its rear end is unattached, so that the side lasting may not be interfered with, and after the side lasting is completed the rear end of the stifiener is brought into its normal position of use against the innersole and there secured by appropriate means.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan of the top or inner face of an'innersole showing the fastener for the forward end of the shank stiffener clinched therein.

Figure 2 is a detail section on line 2- 2 of Figure 1 showing the stiffener broken away. Figure 3 is a perspective of the stiffener.

Figure 4. is a side elevation of the innersole with the shank stifiener secured thereto in condition to be fixed to the bottom of a last.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the shoe after lasting, the stiffener being shown in position to permit side lasting.

Figure 6 is afragmentary View similar to a portion of Figure 5, but showing the rear end of the stiffener secured in position.

Referring to these drawings, 1 indicates an innersole to which the shank stiffener 2 is to be secured. This shank stiffener as shown in Figure 3 is provided with perforations 3 and 4 adjacent to its ends through which I fasteners may be placed. The opening or perforation 3 at the forward end of the stiifener is so positioned relative thereto as to form a pivot portion 5 between the opening 3, and the forward edge 6 of the stiffener.

The fastener for securing this end of the stiffener comprises a strip having an intermediate loop portion7, shownibest in Figure 2, which is designed to engage about the pivot portion 50f the stiffener and end portions 8 and 9 which are bent away: in, oppo-.

site directions from the portion 7 and are vthen turned so as to be driven throughthe sole 1 as at 10 and 11, their pointed ends 13 and 1 1 beings turned inwardly and clinched into the material of the innersole tofiXthe fastener in position. F the stiffener engaged therewith, isfixed in position at the forward edge of the shank portionof'the sole adj acent'to the break-.lme'

before the sole is tacked to the last, as shown in Figure 4:,thesole then beingin flat condition and thefastener permittingthe stiffener to be moved about the pivot portion 5 of the stiffener between the full and dotted line positions shown in Figure 4; vThe sole with the stifli'energthus attached at its for- This fastener, with stiifener, and means for fixing one end of said stiffener to said sole adjacent-t0 its break line against relative longitudinal displacement and for relative pivotal move ment from and toward superposed facial contacting relation.

, 2. The step-s in the manufacture of a shoe having on'finnersole and a shank stiffener fixed thereto, which comprise pivotally fixing the forward end portion of the stiffener to the innersole, fixing the sole and stiffener to a last, assembling an upper on the last, lasting the upper to the innersoleincluding lasting the shank portion while the rear end of the stiffener is swung away from the shank portion of said innersole about its pivotal connection withosai d innersole, bringing the rear end of said stifl'ener to its proper operative position relative to said innersole and securing it in position, and then completing the shoe.

7 In testimony whereofI have aflixed 'REINHARD B. BABTELS.

signature.

ward end is thensecured to-the'last and the upper is assembledtherewith and 'lastedoin position while the stifiener 2 is positioned, as

shown in Figure 5, withits rear end turned forwardly. position it offers no obstruction tothe wipers or other mechanismused in drawing over the upper materials during the lasting opera- When the stiffener is in this tion, since it-vis not positioned against the V v I Y sole surface at theshank portionof the shoe where the sole is narrowest. This lasting may be done in a manner suitable for the particular type of shoebeing made, whether Welt, 'McKay, Littlewav process,'or cement process. that illustrated in Figure 5 being in accordance' with the McKay, 'Littlewav or cement process. and after thisfside lasting has been completed, the stiffener may then 1 be swung about its pivotal connection and ts rear'end secured to the inner'sole, as by driving a suitable fastener '15 through the 7 5b perforation 4, this being clinched against the usual metalffacing for the'heel end of the last. I This completes the securing of the stifiener'in position in the shoe, its manner of securing being effective to prevent move ment of the stiffener in the completed. shoe ing service.

by reason of'the forcesexerted thereon dur- An embodiment of this invention having thus been described, it should be evident to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention claims. Y lclaimi I '1. In combination, a shoe sole, a shank as defined by the appended V 

